Alpha Exchange is On-Line

The New Generation Canadian Exchange

TORONTO, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - As of today, the Alpha Alternative Trading System (Alpha ATS is) no more and the Alpha Exchange is born. Leveraging that same entrepreneurial spirit and operational excellence that has allowed Alpha ATS to be a catalyst of change in our industry over the last three and a half years, Alpha Exchange will continue the Alpha value generation journey.

"The objective of Alpha Exchange is to build on the successes of Alpha ATS and take the Alpha value generation journey beyond its original frontiers into the listing space", notes Jos Schmitt, CEO of Alpha Exchange.

"Our vision for the listing business is not to be everything to everyone but to focus on those areas where there has been too little or no attention. In keeping with our usual approach, we have been listening to and learning from our customers, and what has become clear to us is that we could bring immediate value to technology issuers, the issuers of Exchange Traded and Closed End Funds, and the issuers of Structured Products".

Alpha Exchange's value proposition for issuers is based on a simple set of core principles:

• Understand the specific needs of issuers.
• Unambiguous listing requirements tailored to the needs of the different types of issuers.
• An innovative market making program aimed at igniting trading liquidity for new issuers.
• Focused marketing on the investors that matter for the issuers.
• Continued focus on attracting retail order flows, critical to the early success of new issuers.
• Market data for Alpha listed securities available at no cost to help promote new issuers.
• Issuer focused services, strategies and education programs that provide value beyond listing alone.
• A value for money approach to listing fees.

Alpha Exchange also begins its journey with a new Board of Directors: 50% representatives of the parent company and 50% independent directors. The independent directors of the Board are:

• David Beatty, Chairman of the Board.
• William Braithwaite.
• Alan Hutton.
• Carol Stephenson.

"I am extremely honoured and pleased to see David, Bill, Alan and Carol, who bring experience form outside of the dealer community, joining", continues Jos Schmitt. "Their exceptional experience and expertise in governance, strategy and other board matters, combined with the unequalled industry expertise of our shareholder directors, are a clear demonstration of our continued commitment to all stakeholders of the Alpha Exchange".

About Alpha Exchange - Alpha Exchange is part of Alpha Group, an organization set up by nine leading Canadian financial institutions in 2007 to reinvigorate trading in Canadian markets at a time it was characterized by a lack of liquidity, efficiency, innovation and state-of-the art technology. After having achieved substantial results in the Canadian trading space with its Alternative Trading System (Alpha ATS), a marketplace competing for the trading business with other organizations such as the incumbent exchange, Alpha Group decided to bring similar change and benefits in the Canadian listing space. This led to the formation of the Alpha Exchange, the new generation Canadian exchange built on the principles of entrepreneurship and operational excellence. Alpha Exchange will not only foster quality listings and liquidity, but also re-energize innovation and entrepreneurship in Canada across the industry sectors that have been neglected over the past several years.

For further information regarding Alpha Exchange, visit www.alpha-group.ca

SOURCE Alpha Group